Listening through Underground Idols 2015-2019 and suddenly I got a clear picture of what my MC Ume likes, I already knew she had the Burst Girl CD and thought Yurapico was cute, but nothing else seemed to fit. It's important since she is "not" infatuated with an ex-idol.
Melon Batake a Go Go.
Ume is a GoGo.
Which also means that Garuda is in play. Garuda and Yuffie are def Ume's style.
#PennedPossibilities 215 — Is your MC inclined to help others, or will they only do it when it benefits them, if at all? What makes them this way? Has it ever gotten them into trouble, or inconvenienced them?
For Love of a Konbini Idol
I Faced Her Onryo Lover
Ume: "I'm not the kind of person who goes out of their way for others."
Tomo: "Don't let her fool you. She could no more walk past a stray kitten than stop breathing. You can't believe the trouble she has dragged us into."
Kan-chan: My relationship with my parents was never good but they were totally unable to understand my disinterest in dating, marriage, or having kids. They just never lay off and make sarcastic comments."
Shiro: "As far as I can tell she has no interest in repairing that relationship, so we just leave it alone."
Just ran into this passage in the chapter from Konbini Idol I am posting this week. A short explanation. First Fumihiko is a male name and Fumiko is a female name. Second, the scene is from the funeral of the patriarch of the family and the MC has come back after several years in the US.
--- Chapter 6 of Konbini Idol
I bowed politely, “Father, Mother.”
There was a look of horror on their faces. I had always been a wayward child, drinking and smoking long before I was of legal age. My grandfather had held me in contempt and yet had paid for my college over my parents’ protest. They thought there were better uses for the money. But now I had exceeded all dire expectations and refused to live as the male heir to the family.
“Fumihiko?” my mother managed, while my father turned away. I had ceased to exist in his eyes.
“Fumiko,” I corrected her. “And you had better set Uncle Kakuya straight before there’s a scene and I bring more shame on you.” Perhaps I should have been less confrontational, but the memory of all those years of hiding fueled a sullen resentment that I had never expressed.
#WordWeavers#Writing 2/2. If your MC stayed in your place for a few weeks, what would their favorite room be and why? 1/2
Compete work
Arisu and Kaori would be fascinated by my office and poke through all the merch and manga. we all share musical taste so they wouldn't even be bothered by my music.
Saeki and Shiro would prefer my housemate's office. It would be the quietest place to study.
Arius or Kaori would have to ask for them since they are too polite and wouldn't want to inconvenience anyone.
Tomo: I would be a good parent. I was too until my ex decided I wasn;t fit to be a parent.
Shiomi: You must be kidding me a parent. I'd suck at it. I hate kids. Besides I hear it's not good for kids to breath cigarette smoke. She lits up another cigaretter.
I have no idea. I lose money on my writing. Art includes a cover, roughly 10 major interior drawings, and 4 or 5 character sketches. Economically this is a major outlay for me and unlikely to ever be recouped..
Artistically is it worth it to me? This is a labor of love., so yes it is worth it.
Image concept sketch for Chapter 5 of WIP "For Love of a Konbini Idol."
1 or two more chapters and this volume will be complete. (barring editing.)
I have most of the next volume mapped in my head. The only question is how fast to advance the relationship arc. Then there is the C plot, do I, and if I do how do I bring it in?
From: For Love of a Konbini Idol
I Faced Her Onryo Lover
The girl behind the counter’s name tag said Shiomi Shiori. I bet she got called Shishi. She was an inch or two shorter than me, with silky hair she’d dyed a light blue. She was wearing it in twin tails but had lots of loose bangs in front. It looked good on her. Sweet and innocent looking.
Tomo said I needed a girlfriend, and he was right. Shiomi-san was a stunner. She reminded me of a Spaniel: cute, big eyes, and friendly. And if she was as gay as I thought…
From: For Love of a Konbini Idol
I Faced Her Onryo Lover
Join Ume, Shiomi, and Tomo as their relationship develops. In a creepy world where “love” never dies.
Quate: It turned out Mika was nasty-jealous. If I so much as looked at another woman, I’d pay for days. And Ume was worth looking at. She had nice legs when you could see them. She usually wore jeans or slacks; a flannel lumberjack shirt or some other butch top; and until now, no makeup. I think she had tats, but I’m not sure. Maybe when summer came, I’d see. She looked fit, like she worked out. Bet she had a tight ass. A first-class butch. But like I said, if Mika saw me looking, I would hear no end of it.
If this about the Love Interest I would have quite the essay. But the MC.
Shiro: Has memories of a loving father. But he was assigned to an overseas office and is distant. Her mother was also distant. A domineering woman who wants what is best for her daughter. A task that shouldn't be left to a child. Her grandmother was supportive though seldom intervened. But Shiro recognized that support and internalized a message from her grandmother that she had a right to follow her dreams.
The result was a well-behaved conventional daughter. And that is where it might have stayed but she was gay. Dreading the prospect of settling down with a man to please her mother and society. Then she met Kaori, a cursed non-conformist,
Ume is a loner and romantic. Unable to meet the dreams of her family, i.e. being a proper man, she has followed her own path. She gracefully exits her family of blood and lives peacefully at the edges of society. Independent but not unduly scarred by her past. her world centers around her family of choice, Tomo, and her writing. A romantic and an optimist. Things have just always worked out for her.
In "For Love of a Konbini Idol, I Faced Her Onryo Lover,"
Tome: "Shiome is so frustrating. Ume bends over backward to help her. Saves her life for God's sake. Totally ungrateful. Swears at her, insults her, steals our stuff. That woman is going to ruin Ume.
#PennedPossibilities 183 — Is your MC one to be loyal in relationships, or are they likely to quickly move from one bond to another?
Shiro: "I'm not sure I could hop relationships. I think Kao would kill them. Just joking. Halfway joking, that is. Besides if I met someone else I could just have them join our family. Provided Kao and Kan-chan approved. I would have to be careful they voiced any objections beforehand. They tend to do things to please me and resent it later, especially Kao. Kan-chan would tell me straight out. #polyamory
Umi scratches her head. Why would I hop? I love Tomo and he's not jelly, so why would there be any need. #KonbiniIdol
#WordWeavers#Writing 04 SC POV: How do you feel about family? Who do you consider family?
Kan-chan: Choice. Family of choice. My blood family sucks. They never understood me. Always on me to get a boyfriend. Constant sarcasm. Shiro and Kao are different. They don't understand, but they accept. How could they understand,; They have sex on the brain and I couldn't care less about it. #Asexual
Tomo: "Ume and my kid. I thought maybe the family should be bigger, but now I don't know. This Shiomi is nothing but trouble and going to break Ume's heart. Dumb cluck. #polyamory
And there is my kid. I don't get to see them much. My ex. sees to that. The courts are on his side too. But my kid's sweet. It doesn't seem to bother them they have two dads. now. I just hope the ex doesn't poison their mind. #KonbiniIdol#Transmasc.
Now that I have started actual serialization, i.e. I have posted the first chapter I will have to keep my routine together. I have deadlines to meet now. Even if they are only the ones I set myself I take them seriously.
Kaori: "I'm a fan of a bunch of things, chiefly Shiro. But that's not what you meant. Let's see, I love vocal trance and tea. I follow "Is the Order a Rabbit?" especially Rize. Just about any CGDCT is up my ally. Kan-chan and I have watched KON! together several times and she is bugging me to do a rewatch of "Do It Yourself."
Kan-chan is into anything neko maid.
Both Shiro and I are into street fashion. But what Shrio is really into is doujinshi, the lewd kind. She is into... No better shut up or she will be pissed at me.
Ume: "Can't say I'm a fan of anything. I like josei romances but there aren't enough gay one's to be a real fan of them. Shiomi on the other hand is a super fan of punk and industrial chika. She is the love interest in our WIP. I'm a writer so I can break the 4th wall. #KonbiniIdol
No good deed goes unpunished. As Ume discovers when she rescues Shiomi. Neither Shiomi nor the jealous, vengeful ghost that stalks her appreciates the act. Something they both make clear. As for Ume’s partner, Tomo, he is less than thrilled at the intrusion of an unpleasant third into their relationship. “I know I told you to find someone who would appreciate your advances, but I really question your taste.”
Come, follow Ume-san, Shiomi-san, and the increasingly exasperated Tomo as the three explore their attraction for each other in a world where creepy things wait and watch from the shadows.
I looked at the cigarette in my hand, thought, “What the hell?” and took a puff; “Ugh, unflavored.” But I’d finally gotten a kiss from my konbini girl, a secondary kiss, but a kiss.
Come, follow Ume-san, Shiomi-san, and the increasingly exasperated Tomo as the three explore their attraction for each other in a world where creepy things wait and watch from the shadows.
Mikawa-san is Fukitsu’s biggest fan. A total stan that would do anything for her oshi, to get her oshi. Presents, cheki, tickets, blackmail, nothing is too much. Which presents a problem, since idol/stan relationships are strictly forbidden and can get the idol fired or worse. In this case, worse is only the beginning.
“For the Love of a Konbini Idol, I Faced Her Onryo Lover,” will be my third serialized novel.
Feel free to follow me or the hashtag #KonbiniIdol
The bridge scene where Ume is almost possessed, Writing the POV of a possessed character is so fun. It is warped and dark. Gives me an excuse to be really messed up. Stuff I could never do or say with my MCs in their normal state.
From: "For the Love of a Konbini Idol, I Faced Her Onryo Lover"
There’s a saying that if you save someone’s life, you become responsible for them. Shiomi was vulnerable and wasn’t in her right mind, so I couldn’t throw her out and live with myself. I didn’t know how much she was out of her mind until later, when I asked her about that night…